Hobby Master T-6G Texan Armee de l'Air Ain Oussera, Escadrille EALA, Algeria, 1961 diecast model aircraft HA1505 1/72

The T-6 trainer was one of the most important aircrafts of all time. It was used by 34 countries with a total of 17,096 built. An estimation of over 100,000 U.S. military pilots flew this aircraft. It was in late 1930's when North American Aviation began to deliver the "T-6 Texan" for the USAAF and the "SNJ" for the USN. The Texan got its name because of production in Dallas of Texas. It was also known as the "Harvard" for those built in Canada.

Though basically built as a trainer aircraft, the T-6 was used in multiple roles like interceptor, fighter bomber and counter-insurgency (COIN) during conflicts like WWII, the Korea and the Vietnam War. It was also used extensively as an civilian aircraft. Despite all of these applications, the T-6 was still best known as a universal trainer, fittingly dubbed "the Pilot Maker".

During the Algerian War of Independence (from 1954 to 1962) against France, the French Government acquired some 700 North American T-6Gs, with 300 modified planes shipped to the Escadrilles d'Aviation Legere d'Appui (EALA a section of the French Air Force) in Algeria. These T-6Gs could carry four 7.5 MAC AA 52 machine guns in nacelles, two 7.5mm rocket pods, a 100-litre napalm tank, four 10kg bombs or six T.10 rockets.